Crossbow Realization

[BTaylor]

I would say around there yes, and once i started getting around other bow hunters and shooting local 3d matches ive realized or at least in my circle is alot of deer hunters cannot shoot well past 40 yds. Shooting successfully with trad for about 6 years before even touching a compound, My excessive practice and obsession coupled with modern compounds has made me a heart shot archer out to 100yds confidently. But that was never a thing before social media that i can remember, and i only subscribe to practicing at double the distance you plan to shoot a deer at, im in Louisiana in thick hardwoods and i know for a fact id never get a chance to even shoot a deer at 40-50 yds in the woods and never have yet i practice from 0-100 yds. Now hogs is a different story, ill throw rocks at them if i have the chance lol

Why you hatin on hogs? They yummy

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

Why you hatin on hogs? They yummy

Indeed, arguably the best tasting meat there is, but once my freezer is full theres still too many of that great tasting nuisance and people are theyre only predator in these woods. Ill get down from a deer hunt to go chase some hogs through the woods. I always say its good they taste great bc if you have them i your state its like a freebie, and hogs regularly get close or over 200lbs, thats a lot of meat especially if youre killing in the 10’s sometimes 100’s per year.

 

[bigmike23]

In the past legality put aside, I think there was some substantial downsides to using a crossbow. They were heavy, wide, extremely cumbersome, terrible to drawback, crappy triggers etc.
Ravin changed the game. Since they hit the market crossbows from every manufacturer have come leaps and bounds forward.
There is almost no drawbacks to using one.
Take for example the Ravin R500. It's extremely small, nimble, very narrow tho still kinda heavy. It's trigger is incredible. You can order 90# limbs using the fastest bow on the market with the heaviest arrows using the best broadheads and it still doesn't come close, not by a mile how hard the r500 hits.
You don't have to draw on the animal. The r500 even cocks itself with a electric addon.
Anyone who says using a compound is just as easy is delusional.

All that said, Ive used a crossbow since 2018 and it's been a blast. I used a Bowtech insanity from 2012 till I got it. I thought I'd use the crossbow from time to time but still primary hunt with the bow. But I've pretty much used the crossbow solely the last couple of years. I get no joy or satisfaction difference from using it versus my bow. Getting into archery for myself was never about archery. It was simply to extend my season. I shoot maybe 20 shots in the preseason to get it dialed in. And as long as that deer is under 40 and I do my part, he's going to die every single time.
It's a battle or debate I see no reason in having, because they aren't going away. It doesn't matter how much it agitates you. Its all about that money. The revenue xbows bring in is staggering. No state would willingly give it up. And states who haven't caved already will in time, guaranteed.
I'd love nothing more than to see cigarettes banned, but they are one of the biggest contributers to the US Treasury, hence why theyll always be around. It's always about the money

 

[Horn]

I'm not doubting m.o. stop sign but boy is that surprising!

 

[SNIPERBBB]

Hmm, correct me if I'm wrong, but did not @Nutterbuster once posted a video where he argue that hunting season should not have weapon biases at all? That labeling and dividing the seasons create division between the community?

It depends on what your objective when it comes to hunting. Personally, I feel that airbow/bowgun should be classified as firearm instead of archery equipment.

My 8 year old son can softball group at 50 yards with my cheap Barnett Jackal crossbow. Its going to be what he carry into the wood the first time whitetail hunting.

But to be honest I dont see a lot of hate towards crossbow as much as everyone seem to see. I honestly see more elitist attitude from trad bow hunters against compound bow hunters.

Eww... Wouldn't want to wear orange in the woods for 6 months

 

[Plebe]

In the past legality put aside, I think there was some substantial downsides to using a crossbow. They were heavy, wide, extremely cumbersome, terrible to drawback, crappy triggers etc.
Ravin changed the game. Since they hit the market crossbows from every manufacturer have come leaps and bounds forward.
There is almost no drawbacks to using one.
Take for example the Ravin R500. It's extremely small, nimble, very narrow tho still kinda heavy. It's trigger is incredible. You can order 90# limbs using the fastest bow on the market with the heaviest arrows using the best broadheads and it still doesn't come close, not by a mile how hard the r500 hits.
You don't have to draw on the animal. The r500 even cocks itself with a electric addon.
Anyone who says using a compound is just as easy is delusional.

All that said, Ive used a crossbow since 2018 and it's been a blast. I used a Bowtech insanity from 2012 till I got it. I thought I'd use the crossbow from time to time but still primary hunt with the bow. But I've pretty much used the crossbow solely the last couple of years. I get no joy or satisfaction difference from using it versus my bow. Getting into archery for myself was never about archery. It was simply to extend my season. I shoot maybe 20 shots in the preseason to get it dialed in. And as long as that deer is under 40 and I do my part, he's going to die every single time.
It's a battle or debate I see no reason in having, because they aren't going away. It doesn't matter how much it agitates you. Its all about that money. The revenue xbows bring in is staggering. No state would willingly give it up. And states who haven't caved already will in time, guaranteed.
I'd love nothing more than to see cigarettes banned, but they are one of the biggest contributers to the US Treasury, hence why theyll always be around. It's always about the money

Amazingly, smoking tobacco products in nearly all indoor establishments and many outdoor public areas and workplaces is now prohibited in my state. It's crazy that it's only since 2000 that smoking was banned on all domestic and international flights, although domestic restriction dates back to 1988.

Sometimes things get reined in.

Then there's my state, lol, which still requires greater than 17" ATA (limb tip to limb tip) on an uncocked crossbow.

I don't crossbow hunt, but I recognize the value of crossbows. For archers who are physically limited (age, injury, etc.) it offers them an archery oriented option allowing them to continue doing something they are passionate about, or for some to develop that passion.

In my state, bowhunters have a slice of archery season to themselves. There are some good arguments for that, but I'd be open to including crossbow hunters for the whole of the archery season. I'd love to hunt with my dad in October.

If crossbows weren't so dang fast, there'd be less resistance to that imo. Blame Ravin.

 

[Sbrammer]

Well from my perspective I can agree with the cumbersome part, don't know if I can follow all the way to less accurate than a compound bow. After all a crossbow is simply a compound bow sitting horizontally on a frame.

But the reasons I choose the compound is
a.) I have joint problems and the crossbow allows me to hunt archery season.
b.) Time. With a crossbow you don't have to start practicing 3-5 evenings months before season with every possible angle.

Which ever you choose or desire, I think is a really good choice. If I had my way, I would hunt with a compound bow because they are so much lighter and definitely carry better. And for me, at the end of the day, wouldn't be shooting past 40yds with either.

 

[OspreyZB]

Eww... Wouldn't want to wear orange in the woods for 6 months

Well you wouldn't have to, because the season would be a whole lot shorter.

 

[jbogg]

I’ve come full circle. I started hunting with a compound bow in the late 1980s, and did that for almost 20 years. Purchased a Excaliber vortex crossbow a little over 10 years ago and used that exclusively for eight years or so. When I discovered saddle hunting, I realized that the Excalibur was not the best choice. It was as wide as a Cessna 172 and I had a couple of instances with the limb tip hitting the tree while shooting from the saddle.

Ended up purchasing a wicked ridge M370 which is a whole lot narrower, and much better suited for saddle hunting. Fast forward to this year, and I started hunting with a takedown Recurve and was fortunate enough to take three deer. The older I get the less it becomes about the kill, and the more it becomes about the overall experience. I don’t care what you hunt with, just get out there and hunt.

 

[tylerray378]

In 2020 I had switched from compound to crossbow for the “easy-ness” of it. I had a hard time maneuvering around the tree for shots, never killed a deer with it. I also didn’t like how bulky it was. In 2021 I switched back to compound. This year was also compound but I didn’t fill my tag till gun season (at bow range). I realized this season I just enjoy shooting deer no matter how I do it. Next year I’m gonna give crossbows another try but this time it’s because I feel like I can’t criticize something or someone without first being successful with it. Also my kids are getting older and I want to see what a crossbow can do before having them use it.